Contributed by Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer
IMLS submitted their report ahead of the conference and it was sent to the coordinators’ listserv. Additional copies were available at the meeting. Michele Farrell and James Lonegan from IMLS were there to review the report and answer questions. Susan Hildreth sent her regrets at not being able to attend as well.
Representatives from the following states attended the meeting and reported on their state’s LSTA activities-Maine, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Alaska, New Jersey, Arizona, and New York. We are including brief highlights from the reports here for your information.
Maine: All statewide projects. Cornerstones of Science: combination of books and scientific equipment for lending. State Library included in the Governor’s Broadband Task Force.
Pennsylvania: Thirty-nine libraries are included so far in their statewide ILS, using Evergreen. Small LSTA grants are being awarded for “maker space” learning labs for children and adults. They are looking forward to working on preservation and disaster preparedness for local libraries.
Rhode Island: Reduced LSTA funds will mean no sub-grants for the foreseeable future. Talking Books, youth services, CE for library staff and statewide databases will be funded. They are putting together Mother Goose brochures to place in low-income supermarkets. The Department of Labor will be placing twenty computers in public libraries for use only for workforce development as a supplement to One-Stop Centers.
Alaska: Most LSTA funds are used for pass-through grants. One-third goes to statewide efforts, remainder to individual libraries of all types. Digitization is important, as are statewide databases, interlibrary loan and a reference toll-free number. They utilize Books by Mail and have a Ready to Read Resource Center. They convened electronic resource librarians. Alaska Native American Summit was held with follow-up workshops.
Arizona: Sub-grants mostly were centered around the state centennial…centennial Summer Reading Program, centennial One Book, centennial kits to libraries. They have now had an Acting State Librarian for sixteen months. They are working on a Digital Arizona Library (similar to Colorado-Jamie LaRue model for digital downloads).
New York: Statewide services and formula allocation grants are given (Summer Reading Program and service improvement grants). They have lots of new partnerships with 4H, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Hunger Project (which will provide SRP refreshments). They have a new statewide plan and vision with sixty recommendations. They are looking into re-inventing their early literacy program. They are developing statewide digital literacy training with BTOP funds-both standards and curriculum. Carol Desch will send the link for this initiative to LSTA Coordinators.
New Jersey: Primarily statewide projects: Evanced Solutions for Summer Reading Program statistics; Counting Opinions for public library statistics; Talking Book and Braille Center; statewide databases; JerseyConnect (statewide technology infrastructure). Two continuing education opportunities funded: “Shake It Up”, a rap and hip-hop event for librarians and the “Boomer Conference” on service to this age group.